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D20bPlay as Black2 lines to train

Learn the Queen's Gambit Accepted

A Queen’s Gambit branch where Black releases the center and asks White to recover the c-pawn efficiently. Black aims to hold the extra pawn only when it does not delay development.

Practice this openingUnderstand the moves
Main line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4

1.d41…d52.c42…dxc43.e43…e54.Nf34…exd4

The idea

Why this opening works

The Queen's Gambit Accepted gives Black a clear route to hold the extra pawn only when it does not delay development. Its recurring positions revolve around development versus material, the e4 center, and c-file activity, so the repertoire rewards understanding the structure as much as remembering the move order.

What to remember

  • Know the first 8 half-moves of the main line.
  • Understand the purpose of your key moves before adding more theory.
  • Practice the branches until you can respond without move-order guessing.

Move by move

The moves worth understanding

Theory sticks when every move has a job. Start with these ideas from the trainer.

Scroll down through 6 positions

  1. Position 1 of 6

    1...d5

    d7 → d5

    d5 begins the Queen's Gambit Accepted plan: hold the extra pawn only when it does not delay development.

  2. Position 2 of 6

    2...dxc4

    d5 → c4

    dxc4 clarifies the tension while improving piece activity or pawn structure for the next phase.

  3. Position 3 of 6

    3...e5

    e7 → e5

    e5 reinforces the center and prepares the next piece-development or pawn-break decision.

  4. Position 4 of 6

    4...exd4

    e5 → d4

    exd4 clarifies the tension while improving piece activity or pawn structure for the next phase.

  5. Position 5 of 6

    3...Nf6

    g8 → f6

    Nf6 develops or reroutes the knight toward the central squares that drive this opening.

  6. Position 6 of 6

    4...Nd5

    f6 → d5

    Nd5 develops or reroutes the knight toward the central squares that drive this opening.

Trainer variations

Lines you’ll meet

These are representative branches from the drill, not a demand to memorize everything at once.

Line 11. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4
Line 21. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5

Quick answers

Queen's Gambit Accepted questions

What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted?

A Queen’s Gambit branch where Black releases the center and asks White to recover the c-pawn efficiently. Black aims to hold the extra pawn only when it does not delay development. The Queen's Gambit Accepted gives Black a clear route to hold the extra pawn only when it does not delay development. Its recurring positions revolve around development versus material, the e4 center, and c-file activity, so the repertoire rewards understanding the structure as much as remembering the move order.

What is the main line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted?

This trainer starts with 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4. The exact move order can change by variation, so learn the purpose of each move as well as the sequence.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted good to learn as Black?

It can be a useful part of a Black repertoire if its positions match how you like to play. Learn the main plan first, then use the drill to test the recurring replies.

Study next

E60bKing's Indian DefenseA hypermodern defense — let White build the center, then counter-attack it.1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7D30bQueen's Gambit DeclinedHold the center with ...e6 and ...d5 — solid, reliable, and strategic.1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7D10bSlav DefenseMeet 1.d4 d5 2.c4 with ...c6 — keep a solid pawn chain and a free light-squared bishop.1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6

Turn the guide into recall

Now play the Queen's Gambit Accepted from memory.

The drill gives you an opponent reply, checks your response, and repeats the branches that need more work.

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